House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik is spearheading an effort to get Republicans to embrace early voting in her home state of New York even as former President Donald Trump has given mixed messages on the issue.
At the start of this cycle, Stefanik launched the New York Battleground Fund, a joint fundraising agreement between her and the New York GOP dedicated to boosting Republican incumbents and candidates in the Empire State. New York is a key battleground in the contest for the House majority, and Stefanik has taken a leading role in the fight there.
A key part of Stefanik’s strategy has centered on encouraging Republicans to cast their votes before Election Day. Republican Party leaders widely recognize that they need to take better advantage of early voting methods. But that hasn’t always been the view publicly expressed by Trump, who has often vilified early voting and mail-in ballots.
Stefanik dismissed the idea that Trump has been unhelpful to their mission in this space. Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally, noted she worked with the campaign to get Trump to cut a digital ad calling on Republicans to “use every appropriate tool available… whether you vote early, absentee, by mail, or in person.” The ad recently began running in vulnerable House Republican districts.
Stefanik told us it’s “super important” for Republicans to hear that message coming directly from Trump. “There is no political figure in modern history who has turned out votes more effectively than Trump,” she said.
The early voting push has also relied on mail, text messages and phone calls to reach voters. Stefanik described it as a “layered approach.” If a voter didn’t answer the phone, they’d get a text. If someone indicated they were going to request an absentee ballot but didn’t do so within 48 hours, they’d receive a follow-up message.
The money: Stefanik, who has built a robust grassroots fundraising operation, took her small-dollar donor list and did a data transfer with the New York GOP to help raise money for the effort. She has also directed some of her high-dollar donors to contribute to the fund as well, including Paul Singer, Marc Rowan and David Kelsey.
“We wanted to harness that for investments in New York,” Stefanik said. “Because New York is not a traditional presidential or Senate state, we’re on our own as the House.”
The New York Battleground Fund has raised $2.7 million as of June 30, which is the most recent FEC data available. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced at a fundraiser in New York City last week that he was giving $100,000 directly to Stefanik’s effort, according to a source familiar.
